For Yankee fans, you remember certain post-season games in greater detail. The Joe Girardi triple in game 6 against the Braves in the World Series where the stadium was shaking. Aaron Boone’s home run in game 7 of the ALCS vs. Boston, Ken Griffey’s triple in game 5 vs. Seattle and of course, game 7 against Arizona plus all of the walk off wins that series. SU says last night’s game goes in that category for drama.
The Yankees were dead in the water for 6 innings. They would have been no hit if not for Todd Frazier’s bloop single. The highlight for SU was Chase Headley’s double but as he had not had an extra base hit since September 10th, he, of course, falls down between 1st and 2nd. Making it to 2nd base was the key play of the inning to keeps things moving. Sanchez’s double to right field combined with his sac fly to right is a positive sign of things to come now for him. He needs to go the other way and stop pulling. Judge appears to be starting another hot stretch. Didi shows how to go to left field. As dramatic a win as I can remember. This team plays with a lot of heart and whether you like Girardi or not, he sets the tone. The complaints that he makes his players tense and stressed is BS. The one thing about post-season baseball is that you can go from goat to hero in the blink of an eye.
Sooooo, about tonight’s game. SU has a few suggestions:
- You have to get Torreyes in the line up. History says they do not hit Keuchel with the normal line up. You can put him in at DH or what would be better, play him at 2nd base. Castro made 2 errors yesterday and if you noticed on his last at bat, Girardi called to him from the dugout to see if he was ok. SU believes there is something physical going on with him as he is normally very sure-handed in the field. Let’s give him the day off and you can always use him to pinch hit as necessary.
- I would DH Sanchez again and put Romine back there. Look, he wasn’t that good in game 4 – especially with the catcher’s interference which cost them a run – but Tanaka is another pitcher who is in the dirt all the time. Headley has shown signs of life but only from the left side. Holliday had his shot – too painful to watch.
- Note to all right handed hitters: do not swing at the inside pitches. Take the outside pitches to the opposite field. That has to be the plan.
SU is feeling very proud of the team today. It’s a great group of guys. Even Todd Frazier is growing on me although you need to leave 3rd base open for next season for Gleybar Torres. If you watch Judge in the post-game interview, he is very thoughtful with his responses. Takes a moment to consider every question. Teams with high character players like Judge and Didi are rare these days. Most of the time you put up with the likes of OBJ and try to hold your nose. Not so with the Yankees this year.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
Great win, very exciting. I am not taking Starlin out at this point, no reason to mess with that–everyone has a bad game. Law of large numbers kicked in with the breaks, Headley should have been out at second but Altuve is behind the bag when he makes tag–how do you explain Mr. all-around player making that mistake–it just happens. That was a Huge play. It is time to beat the Yankee killer Keuchel tonight, don’t have to kill him but scratch out a couple of runs, Tanaka gives up 1 or less and give it to the bullpen again–ride the formula. As far as Judge interviews, I get that he is humble and wants to talk team all the time, but Jeter did that for years and it does get boring–its OK to answer the question–Did your homer change the momentum? Answer Heck yes, I was fortunate to be in the position to do that tonight, tomorrow it will be someone else.
Starlin stays in the lineup. His bat is important. Having an automatic out in Romine is OK…. but having Torreyes, who granted is a contact hitter and has gotten key hits throughout the year has not been up to bat in a very long time. I don’t think we have the luxury for him to get up 3 times before possibly feeling it… unless of course Starlin is the DH. I’ll take Torreyes over the other guys… including Headley.
Patience, Patience, Patience and going the opposite way is what we need at the plate HOWEVER I am not opposed if we swing at the first pitch as it seems like most are fastballs right down the middle.
So many stars last night which tells you how balanced we are. Tonite could be hicks, Bird and Starlin…. ya just don’t know.
Hey… we hit Cleveland’s Cy Young candidate well twice…. no reason why we can’t do it against Keuchel….PATIENCE !!!
has a team ever beaten 2 – 100 win teams in a row in the playoffs? If we make it to the World Series i’m sure no one has ever beaten 3 – 100 win teams in a row.
I like Torreyes too but he’s not an example of a patient hitter. He never walks. His on base percentage is scary low given his batting average. Still, it’s not like he’d be keeping some hot hitter out of the lineup.
Just another point.
Forget the middle portion of the season for the Yankees and try to see them in the month of September only… which for all purposes is the most important month to focus on what a team is truly made of. They were just as good as any team coming into the playoffs.
When you compare them to Houston… yes, Houston has a superior batting average as a team. Power is similar though most stats favor Houston. Not as much to an extreme the pitching stats favor the Yankees. I think the big X factor though is Verlander. He was just simply lights out and gave his bullpen the necessary breather to be BOMBARDED. Now the pressure on keeping their Starters in the game grows. I’m sure they are thinking of this for tonight. If tanaka can just keep them even every inning brings us more of an advantage assuming the bullpen will eventually need to take over. Get them both out sometime in the 6th or early in the 7th and I’ll take it. If Keuchel remains into the 8th with a narrow lead then Yankee magic needs to rain down on us. Visa versa and Houston will be in trouble.
Here is an idea… though the chances of it happening are less than slim:
1. 7th or 8th inning and we have a narrow lead or the game is tied.
2. Houston has a righty coming up.
3. We bring in Betances.
4. Houston counters by immediately substituting a lefty to come up.
5. We counter by taking betances out of the game before even throwing a pitch.
6. We bring in anyone else to pitch.
7. Houston just wasted a batter….a lefty.
OK… it ain’t happening but I wonder if that could happen.
Yankees 3 Houston 2 tonight… another nail biter.
Sanchez makes his mark along with Bird.
Both teams end up with 5 hits a piece.
Lastly, Greg Allman comes back to life and plays Whipping Post after the National Anthem. All hell breaks lose by having the first 18,000 fans receive a Joint with the Yankee logo imprinted on the rolling paper. Sales for this special edition rolling paper are on sale for $10/pack. Sales skyrocket and causes the Stock market to hit 24,000 on Thursday.
IT’S A BEAUTIFUL THING…
Great win.
If there’s something wrong with Castro, give him the day off. Otherwise I’m fine with him in there. I actually think the grounds crew has some explaining to do. The weather’s been dry but there are lots of guys losing their footing in all sorts of ways. Castro on the grass. Headley running the bases. Didi diving back to first in the previous game. Maybe it’s just that the playoffs has them going at 110% and funny things happen.
Have to give some credit to Sonny Gray who was fantastic. Also credit to Gardner who hit to the right side for productive out.
Todd Frazier seems to be the life of the party but I can’t watch him for a season. Will enjoy him for now but don’t need to bring him back.
Romine had the bad interference and one wild pitch that might have been blockable but he had a good game in the sense that balls that went into his glove tended to stay in his glove. Cannot minimize the missed calls and pitcher frustration that results from balls constantly popping out of the glove. Gray’s numbers are much much better with Romine and it held true yesterday. Not sure about Tanaka. I could go either way.
Been watching if for a couple of weeks and I can’t understand why Girardi’s shift coverage changes based on the count. The 3rd baseman goes to the right side during a defensive shift until two strikes and then the Shortstop goes and the 3rd baseman comes back. What’s the rationale?